Conor Pass

HikingPhotography

9 Aug

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Fantastic hike starting at the world famous Conor Pass on the Dingle Peninsula , Ireland

The Conor Pass is the highest mountain pass in the country. This is a nice start, knocking 400m off the climb. Cross the road from the carpark and just head uphill, I saw most people seem to go up to Conor Hill itself. Speaking of people , the crowds all day at the pass was constant. I usually steer away from these popular places at times like these, so I was surprised to see the volume of people there. The same thing happened when I drove thru Dingle a few weeks back, the crowds were unbelievable.

Anyway, to continue. It’s just a straight hike up with some very exposed cliffs to your left on the way up. You eventually get to look down into Peddlers Lake. Continue onto Binn an Naomh where the views are simply breath taking.

It’s probably the best views you can get of Brandon being that the clarity is obviously better seeing as you are a lot closer than the next big peak, Beenoskee. In the other direction you have the view then back towards Loch a Duin, Beensokee and the Macha na Bó Valley. Take a good while to take it all in. Even though i’ve been here a few times, it still took my breath away when I got to the top.

Leave here and head across towards the distinctive little point of Croaghskearda, or as I found out later on is known as Strickeen. It’s on the East West Maps but I never thought of calling it Strickeen as, maybe to not confuse it for myself with the Killarney one. Strickeen it is from now on.

On the way over to Cnapan Mor you get to look into the Coumanare Lakes. Like I said in the video, it really does look like the land that time forgot. I spent ages here just taking it all in. It’s amazing.

Finally got to Cnapan Mor, Its a rocky summit with a cross and a trig point, great views again, but nothing we haven’t already seen. Headed then towards Strickeen, where I happened to meet one of the locals out for a walk, We had a great chat for an age where he told me stories of the area and being a hillwalker all his life the info he was imparting was all the more interesting. There was just so much to take in. As it turned out we ended up waling back to the car park together where the chat was just constant. I feel so luck to have met the man and will have to call into his Bakery in Dingle the next time I pass thru it.

And that’s it, a great walk with some stunning views. The total was around 15km with hardly a trail in sight, so keep that in mind if you do come this way.

thanks again for reading and we’ll see you on the next outing.
Ed